The 15 Best Cities in America for Dog Lovers

If you’re moving to a new city and you own a dog, one feature you’re likely looking for is a city that’s pet friendly. Your pets are like family, so you want them to be as comfortable as you are. To find cities that welcome dogs with open arms, we used data from SmartAsset. We also analyzed data from WalletHub’s list of pet friendly cities and Bring Fido’s directory of dog-friendly activities and services.

Here are the 15 best cities in America for dog lovers, according to SmartAsset, WalletHub, and Bring Fido.

15. Seattle

Seattle has more dogs than children. | welcomia/iStock/Getty Images

Dog parks per 100,000 residents: 2.15

If you’re trying to decide whether Seattle is for you, this factoid might sway you: Seattle has more dogs than children. So if your dream is to be surrounded by dogs wherever you go, this is the city for you. There are about 153,000 dogs to 107,178 kids, reports Seattle magazine. There are also more than 36 activity groups for dogs and their owners. That’s right, you can bring your dog along on an ice cream cruise or for a day at the mall.

Next: This city has plenty of dog parks.

14. Portland, Oregon

Portland has plenty of pet friendly hotels. | iStock/Getty Images

Dog parks per 100,000 residents: 5.41

Your pooch will have plenty of room to play and run around in this city. Portland, Oregon, has 35 off-leash dog parks. And if you need to stay in a hotel while you’re in Portland, you don’t have to find someone to take care of your dog. There are 194 pet-friendly hotels. Are you looking for a fellow dog lover to share your time with? Portland’s got you covered with a social network called PDXDog.com.

Next: Plenty of restaurants in this city welcome four-legged customers.

13. Long Beach, California

Long Beach ranked high in several categories. | LUNAMARINA/iStock/Getty Images

Dog parks per 100,000 residents: 1.28

Sunny Long Beach, California, is a great city for you and your furry friend. Long Beach scored high points, ranking 11 out of 100 (1 is most pet friendly) in a recent WalletHub study when it came to city’s outdoor pet friendliness. Furthermore, if you want to grab a bite to eat, you can bring your dog with you to one of the 39 dog-friendly restaurants in Long Beach.

Next: This city offers a variety of treats for dogs.

12. Austin, Texas

It even has a doggy food truck. | RoschetzkyIstockPhoto/iStock/Getty Images

Dog parks per 100,000 residents: 1.36

Austin, Texas, offers many services and activities for dogs. If your companion happens to get hungry during one of your walks, you can head on over to Bow-Wow Bones, which is the city’s first mobile food truck for dogs. In addition, Austin has 15 off-leash dog parks, 317 pet-friendly restaurants, and 299 pet friendly hotels. WalletHub ranks Austin No. 7 for overall pet friendliness.

Next: This city offers plenty of fun in the sun.

11. Tampa, Florida

Tampa pets are pretty healthy. | iStock/Getty Images

Dog parks per 100,000 residents: 2.83

Tampa, Florida, offers 112 dog-friendly restaurants and 78 pet-friendly hotels. One of the main attractions in this city is the Tampa Bay Pet Expo, which is an event for pet owners featuring live entertainment, book readings, and free services, such as nail trims. WalletHub ranked Tampa third for overall pet friendliness. The city also scored high marks (ninth out of a possible 100) when it came to the overall health of pets.

Next: This city might be gritty, but it’s a great place for pups.

10. New York City

New York City has lots of dog-friendly places to visit. | AndreyKrav/iStock/Getty Images

Dog parks per 100,000 residents: 1.62

New York has 456 dog-friendly restaurants and 368 pet-friendly hotels. There are also three dog-friendly shopping centers in this city. WalletHub gave New York high marks (the city ranked No. 8 out of 100) when it came to the overall health of pets in this city. New York is also home to Central Park, which has 843 acres of green space for dogs to run around.

Next: This city is easy on the wallet for pet owners.

9. Tucson, Arizona

You can have a dog on a budget. | iStock/Getty Images

Dog parks per 100,000 residents: 0.95

Tucson, Arizona, has 150 dog-friendly restaurants and 143 pet-friendly hotels. There are also two dog-friendly shopping centers in this city. WalletHub ranked Tucson 16th (out of 100) for overall pet friendliness. The city also ranked 16th when it came to its budget friendliness for pet ownership.

3. Denver

You can even take your dog to the movies here. | Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

Dog parks per 100,000 residents: 1.69

Denver has 99 dog-friendly restaurants and 168 pet-friendly hotels. Some activities you can enjoy with your dog are a walk through one of the city’s state parks and a movie at 88 Drive-In Theatre. WalletHub ranked Denver No. 22 (out of 100) for overall pet friendliness. The city ranked No. 7 when it came to the overall health and wellness of its pets.